When fluids leak from the underside of your vehicle, it could be a sign of several problems. First, the pool of oil, which should appear brown and kind of greasy. The fluids could also be pink, which could indicate a leak of transmission fluids; or, blue and/or green, which likely indicate a coolant leak. Oil leaking from the engine is usually caused by a damaged or degraded gasket or seal. Engine components, like everything, do degrade and wear away and require replacement; it’s also possible that the components are worn out prematurely due to infrequent oil changes, and dirty, corroded oil. It’s also possible that a vehicle’s pan or gasket be damaged by road debris. These components do experience a ton of wear and tear, especially when a vehicle is routinely driven down rough, gravelly roads. The final likely problem (although there are a few more uncommon reasons why a vehicle leaks oil) is a bad ring or valve seal. This scenario can present a tricky situation, because if there isn’t any damage done to the gasket, the oil won’t leak from the engine and instead will be consumed through the combustion processes within the engine.

Regardless of the reason, oil leaks shouldn’t be ignored. And if you do ever find yourself stranded and in need of tow services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, rain, snow, or shine, then call the towing professionals at City Towing.

The post Is it Common to Leak Engine Oil While Parked…? Why Does It Happen? appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

When you drive on wet roads, remember to drive as attentively as you would on icy roads. It’s possible to lose control of your vehicle on wet roads. And it’s a good idea to keep a good following distance on any vehicles in front of you. A two-second following distance is a standard in good conditions (Two-second time interval between identical landmarks—The vehicle in front of you passes a sign post and you don’t pass the same signpost for, at a minimum, two-seconds later) But on wet roads, it may be a good decision to give the other drivers a slightly longer following distance to account for the possibility of longer reaction times due to the conditions.

When it rains, it’s a good idea to turn on your vehicle’s headlights (Many newer vehicles are equipped with sensors that will turn on the headlights for you whenever the light is low). The light will both help you see the road and to let other drivers see you better; however, it’s a bad idea to use the high beams because the light will likely refract from the rain water and reduce visibility.

It’s not always possible to drive in good weather and on dry roads, but it is always possible to practice certain habits that will keep you safer in the event that the weather turns ugly. Your first responders at City Towing are ready to help tow your vehicle regardless the weather or road conditions, hour of the day or day of the week. If you need professional tow services, remember to call City Towing today.

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When you discover your buried vehicle, begin by clearing a path around the tires with a snow shovel. Clear away several feet of snow both in front of and behind the vehicle. If there is excessive snow on the ground, it’s likely you’re going to need to rock the vehicle back and forth to get the momentum to reach the driving lane. If you can, also clear out as much accumulated snow as possible beneath the vehicle. Then rock the vehicle back forth to get it clear of the snow. Light pressure on the gas pedal and switching back and forth between drive and reverse, always in control, until the vehicle has enough momentum to get unstuck. It’s tempting to want to floor the gas pedal, give it as much power as possible to unstick the car from the snow, but that extra power won’t help things, and, in some cases, could create a slick of ice on the pavement, making it more difficult to unstick. Momentum is the key.

Hopefully you don’t find yourself stuck or stranded this winter, but if you do remember that City Towing is always ready to help, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post What to Do if Your Car is Stuck in Snow appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

In certain instances, the best shelter, and likely the only shelter, is inside the vehicle. If your vehicle isn’t smoking and there is any apparent danger to remaining, then stay inside. Other motorists can easily see your vehicle, but they won’t always notice you. This is also true if you are stranded in a parking lot or somewhere where you don’t feel safe. Inside the vehicle with the doors locked is safer than outside the vehicle, pacing.

In the event that you have a breakdown but still have the ability to get the vehicle to the side of the road, pull as far off on the shoulder of the road as possible. Yes, the shoulder is narrow on many Montana highways, but it’s still important to open up as much of that driving lane as possible.

If you do every find yourself stranded (Hopefully you never experience a vehicle breakdown), remember that you have the professional tow services at City Towing to help twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Safest Places to Wait for Roadside Assistance appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

There are a few reasons to scrap a broken-down vehicle. If the vehicle has tons of rust throughout the body work. It is possible for a terrific body shop mechanic to restore bits and pieces where rust has taken hold, but it’s unlikely that an older vehicle can be repaired to a quality condition if the rust is extensive. It’s also a good idea to part out the vehicle if the repairs would total more than the value (Both the physical and emotional value—some vehicles have a sentimental value that is beyond the metal, paint, and tires). Then of course there are the more obvious reasons such as that you don’t need or plan to use the vehicle; and, that the structure of the vehicle has deteriorated beyond the scope of any repair.

When you decide to part with the vehicle, it’s a good idea to check throughout that you haven’t left anything behind. Check beneath the seats and in the glove box and any other storage locations. If the vehicle is on your insurance policy then remove it and be prepared to sign over the title of the vehicle.

If your vehicle doesn’t run, but you plan to take it to a body shop to have the work done, then you could easily have it towed between locations.

If you have any questions about the services City Towing offers, or if you are ever in need of assistance (Remember to keep City Towing’s phone number plugged into the contacts on your phone) twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, then call the professional tow services at City Towing.

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One of the main reasons to choose roadside assistance is safety and peace of mind. When you have insurance and roadside assistance you are virtually guaranteed to have help in the event you get into a fender bender, or you find yourself stranded on the roadside with a flat or breakdown. Imagine being able to contact roadside assistance and knowing that you are covered when your professional tow operator from City Towing arrives to either help get your vehicle back on the road or to take it somewhere where it can be repaired.

It’s also extremely important if you drive a vehicle with higher mileage. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t carry roadside assistance if you have a younger vehicle, but it does mean that older vehicles are more susceptible to breakdown. It’s a gamble to drive something that’s unpredictable.

And with roadside assistance it’s important to keep your vehicle in its very best shape. Remember to keep to routine maintenance schedules. Check the tire pressure routinely and keep the tires at the PSI recommended; the optimal PSI should be located either on the sticker stuck to the inner frame of the driver’s door, or in the manual.

Roadside assistance does cost extra on an insurance premium, and a month-to-month subscription does add up over the months and years; but, it’s always there the moment you need it. One of the most important considerations is to use City Towing as your tow services provider. City Towing’s first responders are ready to help you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Reasons to Have a Roadside Assistance Membership… appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

When you have vehicle trouble it’s best to get your vehicle as far as possible off the road on the right shoulder of the road. Hopefully there’s a wide shoulder where you can safely park your vehicle, but in the event that there’s not much room (Montana two-lane highways commonly have limited space on the shoulder) try to get the vehicle as far as possible onto the shoulder and turn on your hazard lights; and, if possible, use road cones or other signaling devices to alert other drivers to your position.

It’s also a good idea to remain inside your vehicle. Unless you feel it would be dangerous to remain in the vehicle (The engine is smoking, etc.). It’s likely the safest place. Your vehicle is considerably more visible to the other drivers than you are. Stay out of traffic, and if you find yourself on a busy road and have to exit your vehicle for any reason use the passenger door to step out from the vehicle; remember to always be mindful and aware of oncoming traffic. If you find yourself locked out of your vehicle remain at your vehicle. Your tow truck driver and companion (Hopefully you’ve called for help) will be looking for you at the vehicle. Of course, if you feel it would be unsafe to remain at our vehicle, get somewhere where you believe you can stay safe while you wait.

Hopefully you never find yourself in an emergency, but things do happen. And in the event of an emergency, remember that you have the experienced, reputable tow services of City Towing to help twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The post Stay Safe While You Wait for Help to Arrive appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.

The very first thing you should do in the event that your vehicle breaks down is call City Towing. You should have the number in your phone and remember that you can use it twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to call for help/service. When you call City Towing, your first responder can help you get your vehicle somewhere safe. Once you have help on the way, let someone else know where you are. It’s also a good idea to call someone to come to your location and wait safely for the tow truck to arrive.

When someone has a vehicle breakdown, for whatever the reason, it’s imperative that they put on the hazard lights to alert the other motorists. At night, a vehicle pulled off on the shoulder of the road might be difficult to see, but the hazard lights help the other motorists see the vehicle and alert them to possible hazards on or around the roadway. You can also use flares, assuming you carry flares in your emergency kit, although a flare is a tool that requires caution to use, and, if you do pack flares in your emergency kit, know and understand the instructions of use before you place the flare in your emergency kit.

Hopefully these tips help keep you safe if you ever find yourself stranded. Remember to put City Towing’s number in your phone, and remember that you can call your professional first responders anytime if you need a tow.

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First and foremost, it’s important to plan for the worst. No, that doesn’t mean you have to be nervous about your trip, worrying about everything, but it does mean that you should always be prepared. Have an emergency kit packed. You should also always have your City Towing professional’s phone number programmed into your phone and stored in the glovebox on a piece of paper. Make sure that your tool kit, specifically your jack, spare, etc., are in good working order. If you have never before changed a tire, or if you don’t know where these tools are hidden within your vehicle’s interior or exterior, then get to know how tools are stored and how they work before you need them.

It’s also important to keep your vehicle cleaned and maintained. If you’re due for an oil change or a tire rotation then make sure to get it done before you leave. It’s also a good idea to check the oil and tire pressure to ensure that everything is in good working order.

Plan your route. If you’re a person who prefers paper maps or atlases, then go through the route several times, taking note of the landmarks and distances. If you’re someone who prefers E-Maps and other technologies, then program everything before your leave.

Hopefully you never have an emergency on the road, but if you prepare then hopefully no emergency will completely ruin your trip. Remember that your towing professionals at City Towing are ready to help twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

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Once upon a time everyone drove vehicles with carburetors. A carburetor benefited from a prolonged idle because it took it time to supply to the vehicle the correct mixture of fuel. An engine could fail if the carburetor failed to do its job correctly.

Modern vehicles use electric fuel injectors. These injectors are monitored by the vehicle’s computer. Sensors detect the ambient temperature and adjust the mixture of the fuel to account for the cold weather. Which means that all the time you spend at idle, hoping to warm the engine of your vehicle, is both time wasted and unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle’s engine (Your vehicle’s engine is still working at idle) and the extra time burning fuel does put a strain on the environment.

It doesn’t take fifteen-to-twenty minutes to warm the vehicle’s interior and to defrost the windshield. A few minutes to get the processes working, and you should be ready to drive; a short time running your vehicle down the road and it will likely warm to the point that the interior is toasty comfortable.

Minimizing idling time will also help to better manage your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. And when it comes to wintertime driving efficiencies, it’s a good idea to always have the correct air pressure in your tires (If you are unsure what the optimal PSI is for your vehicle’s tires, check the sticker on the inside of the door panel or the owner’s manual.

The post Wintertime Vehicle Tips appeared first on Billings Collision Repair.